Sale’s McAlister outshines Leicester’s Mauger

Luke McAlister outshone New Zealand World Cup colleague Aaron Mauger as Sale edged a hard-fought encounter 20-14 to leapfrog opponents Leicester.

The rival centres, who arrived in England on lucrative contracts in the aftermath of the All Blacks’ World Cup quarter-final defeat to France, lined up against each other in midfield.

McAlister kicked a penalty but Charlie Hodgson was the star for Sale, kicking four to back up Rory Lamont’s try while Andy Goode kicked nine points for Leicester who saw Johne Murphy go over.

Sale: (14) 20
Tries: Lamont
Pens: Hodgson (4), McAlister

Leicester: (8) 14
Tries: J Murphy
Pens: Goode (3)

Teams

Sale: Laharrague, Lamont, McAlister, Thomas, Ripol, Hodgson, Wigglesworth, Sheridan, Bruno, Roberts, Schofield, Cox, White, Lund, Chabal.
Replacements: Briggs, Turner, Cockbain, C. Jones, Martens, Cueto, Mayor.

Leicester: G. Murphy, J. Murphy, O Smith, Mauger, Varndell, Goode, F. Murphy, Ayerza, Chuter, White, Hamilton, Kay, Croft, Abraham, Corry.
Replacements: Davies, Castrogiovanni, Wentzel, B. Deacon, Laussucq, Hipkiss, Vesty.